My favorite story about my uncle Dominick was about him winning the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1975.

Dominick Argento was an opera composer, a strange profession for a man who seemed, at least to me, semi-normal, which, I admit, is relative. That year, he had composed a song cycle based on the diary of Virginia Woolf, a woman, who it should be noted, had some issues.

A novelist of great talent, she suffered from depression much of her life and at age 59, killed herself by stuffing rocks in the pockets of her overcoat and walking into the River Ouse. As you can imagine, her diaries opened a window to a mind that, at once, was troubled and beautiful.

York native Dominick Argento was a world-class opera composer. He was also my uncle. He died Wednesday at 91 in his adopted home of Minneapolis.(Photo: Submitted)

Dominick’s music captured that, the beauty of her work, her poetic grace, and the madness that tortured her soul and, eventually, led her to her demise. It is strange and beautiful music, combining classic romantic themes with modern avant-garde weirdness, like much of his work, able to convey the complexity of being a human being.

Anyway, his work won him the Pulitzer, and the first call he made upon hearing the news was to his mother, my grandmother, Nicolina. My grandmother always worried about Memo, as she called him, a childhood nickname. Her eldest had been in the Army, and upon leaving the service, where he served as a cryptographer after graduating from York High, in York, Pa., he studied music at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore on the G.I. Bill.

He eventually earned a doctorate in music composition from the prestigious Eastman School of Music at Rochester University. After he earned his degree, he and his wife, Carolyn Bailey, a soprano he met at Peabody, moved to Minneapolis, where he taught music theory and composition at the University of Minnesota, eventually becoming a tenured professor, all while still composing operas and other pieces.

My grandmother, an old Sicilian woman who had been widowed at an early age when my grandfather – Mike, I’m named for him – died unexpectedly, always felt bad for Dominick. He had gone to school for so many years only to wind up being what she thought of as a glorified school teacher, and she believed that school teachers could barely make a living.

Dominick told my grandmother, “Mom, I won the Pulitzer Prize.”

My grandmother said, “That’s nice. How much do you get for that?”

Dominick went into a lengthy discourse about what the Pulitzer was and what it meant for his career and for his university and his legacy as a composer. It was a big deal, he told her.

My uncle Dominick told me that story some years back, and it has remained, over the decades, my favorite Uncle Dominick story. That, and the time when I went to the University of Maryland, where the school of music had hosted him as an artist in residence and had staged one of his operas, the wonderful “Miss Havisham’s Fire,” based on the character from Dickens’ “Great Expectations.”

One of the first things he said when I arrived was, “Let’s see if the bar’s open.” Spoken like a true musician. And the story when he threw a dart that embedded in my father’s back and gave my dad a nickel not to tell their mom about it.

I’m recalling all of this because, on Wednesday, my uncle Dominick died at age 91. He had a long run and left an amazing legacy, one that is revered in the world of classical music, one of the giants in that slice of American culture, but to me, and my siblings and the rest of my family, he was always just Uncle Dominick, my dad’s older brother.

His works have been performed all over the world. He has had his work performed by the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His work has been performed in Italy, the nation that gave opera to the rest of the planet. He has been honored at the Kennedy Center as an American artist who has contributed to the rich tapestry of this country’s cultural heritage.

His work has earned critical acclaim. His opera “The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe,” about the troubled writer’s last days, was described by the Washington Post as “the great American opera.” He was considered America’s preeminent composer of lyric opera.

But some of my best memories of my Uncle Dominick were sitting on the couch at my parents’ house with him and my dad and watching the Minnesota Vikings on TV. He was a big Vikings fan, and I'd listen to this world-class composer complain about how the Vikings don’t have a clue about finding a quarterback who could get the ball downfield to receiver Randy Moss and that the team’s defense has been crap since Alan Page retired. (The former defensive tackle, who went on to be the first African-American to serve on Minnesota’s Supreme Court, was acquainted with my uncle, my dad told me once.)

Dominick Argento, right shares a laugh with his brother, Joe, my dad, during a family gathering.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Cine Martinez)

It was always strange when I'd read something about Uncle Dominick. The pieces were always cloaked in the kind of breathless prose that made it seem like the writer wanted the reader to know that he was a Great Artist.

Well, he was.

But he was also grounded in his roots.

His father came to this country from Sicily when he was a teenager, alone, broke, not a dime in his pocket. He made his way to York, where he got a job at the former American Chain and Cable. He was a barrel-chested man, strong, and he worked like a team of mules.

He made enough money to send for my grandmother and eventually, own a couple of businesses in town – the former Duke Hotel and Starlight Lounge and the College Café. (As a kid, I used to play the shuffleboard machine at the bar.) Dominick learned to play the accordion as a kid and would entertain the barflies, playing for tips.

Dominick never forgot his roots. He never forgot that he grew up a city kid on the corner of Pine and College. And he approached his work like a blue-collar guy, building operas instead of, say, chain or motorcycles.

A family portrait: Dominick Argento, in his Army uniform, stood for this studio photo with his family. Standing, from the left, his sister Virginia, Dominick, his father Mike and his younger brother Joe, my dad. Seated is his mother, and my grandmother, Nicolina.(Photo: Submitted)

I remember talking to him about it, his creative process. He always said if you sit there and wait for inspiration, you’re never going to get anything done. You sit down and you do the work, he said. He approached composing like a contractor approaches building a house. You lay the foundation, you put up the walls and throw a roof on the sucker and then you can add the other stuff that makes it different.

He once described the process of revising his work as akin to changing the plumbing in a house. You mess with one part, he said, and next thing you know, you have to rebuild the whole thing.

He may have drawn inspiration for his work from literature – something that came from spending hours and hours in York’s Martin Library reading when he was a kid – but his approach to his art was always workmanlike. In fact, at York High, he was enrolled in the industrial curriculum because, as he said, he liked working with his hands and making things.

He created art that will outlive him and will be a part of the canon of American classical music of the 20th Century, a part of this country’s cultural history.

Not that he cared. Asked once in an interview whether he thought his music would last, he replied, “I don’t worry about it.”

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York County and its surrounding region are filled with treasures that will stoke your sense of discovery. Maybe you've never been to sites in this gallery or maybe you've never heard about them. Here's an opportunity to discover them. Or maybe you've been to some of these sites years ago and haven't visited since. Please take the opportunity. We start here with an image showing the revitalized Market District in downtown York. Go there on a market day or in the evening when the market is closed. There are people around. It's fun, and there's energy. Keep tapping through this gallery and discover more unsung places to visit! - Jim McClure York Daily Record file

No, this isn't in the Smoky Mountains, Tennessee. This is a scene awaiting discovery in York County, Pa. These cascades are near the preserved Lock 12 on the long-gone Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal in southeastern York County. York Daily Record file

The Howard Tunnel is a former tunnel on the old Northern Central Railway. It's a destination for users of York County main rail trail, not far from Seven Valleys and the Glatfelter Station parking area on the trail. York Daily Record file

The view of the Susquehanna and York County from Chickies Rock on the Lancaster County side of the river. Chickies Rock offers a great view of a bend in the river. In fact, the stubborn rock helps change the course of the the Susquehanna. This overlook is a short walk from the main road connecting Columbia and Marietta. York Daily Record file

Not only does York Township's Perrydell Farm have ice cream that tops the favorite list of many folks, but visitors can also see an active dairy farm in motion. The owners are generous about permitting visitors to walk the grounds. The biggest decision is whether to take the walk before or after you've picked up your scoop or two of ice cream produced from those ever-present black-and-white cows. York Daily Record file

Some people visiting Gettysburg go right to the battlefield and others go out of their way to avoid this often-congested square -really a circle. But there's a lot to see around there - ice cream shops, antique stores and eateries. You could spend an evening in Gettysburg just moving around this circle. York Daily Record file

Northern Maryland’s Eden Mill Nature Center offers a high dam, intact mill. It's close to York County's southern border in Pylesville, so close that it provided power to Fawn Grove residents at one time. The nature center offers animal exhibits, hiking trails and canoe trips. York Daily Record file

Purple flowers grow up a bank on the side of the path at Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve in Lancaster County, not far from the Susquehanna River. The best advice: stay on the path for this hike so you don't disturb the flowers. Kate Penn, York Daily Record

You can stroll the wonderful grounds at the Redlands Meeting House near Lewisberry. There's a set of steps that enabled worshipers to mount a horse or wagon. There's a cemetery with some very old graves in it. Occasionally, the meeting house is open to visit, too. York Daily Record file

The metal petals form a flower garden along West Philadelphia Street in York. They combine two concepts: The past work of craftsmen in York's many red brick factories are represented here by work of artisans who are fueling York's comeback. Plus, this industrial-strength flower garden is just fun to admire. York Daily Record file

This is a more conventional garden, with few metal components! It's a quiet garden behind the ice cream/entertainment pavilion at Brown's Orchards, providing a lovely walk as part of an already-engaging setting. The Loganville garden is one of many quiet, green places around York County open to the public. York Daily Record file

This might not be an unsung site, but it has a new name - the Appell Center for the Performing Arts - and a lot goes on in its several auditoriums and studios that you might not expect. Vintage Saturday night movies at the Capitol, for example. York Daily Record file

The Glen Theatre is a former band hall, and it's still operating a century later, according to its website. If you have a chance to see a show, it's a memorable experience. You can walk there from one of Glen Rock's several downtown restaurants. Glen Rock, Pa.

These are Welsh slate quarrymen's cottages in Coulsontown, Peach Bottom Township, in York County's southeastern tip. Delta's Old Line Museum often opens one of the restored cottages to the public so you can see how these Welshmen quarried and then worked the slate into slabs used for sidewalks, roofs and a host of other useful things. York Daily Record file

The Old Line Museum, operator of the Coulstontown cottages, sits along Delta's main street. It has many interesting holdings, including a clock made almost entirely out of slate. Delta's downtown has slate features all around - roofs, sidewalks and more. York Daily Record file

This American holly tree, on the grounds of Indian Steps Museum in southeastern York County, is believed to be the largest in this latitude, according to the museum's website. Here are its measurements: Height: 65 feet tall. Spread of branches: 65 feet. Circumference of the trunk, 76 inches. York Daily Record file

This is New Freedom's former train station, converted into a museum and eatery. After previously being closed, the cafe is now open Wednesday through Friday from 10-3, and Saturday and Sunday from 8-6.Steam into History, an excursion line, still runs on nearby tracks. York County has two other excursion lines - in Stewartstown and Muddy Creek Forks. York Daily Record file

This is one of 18 large-scale murals that are part of the Murals of York. Or was. This one, Community Contributors, particularly merits a visit. It has been replaced with a new design on the same Yorktowne Hotel spot, part of the Rotary Club of York's recent centennial celebration. There's a digital tour of the Murals of York at: RetroYork.ydr.com. York Daily Record file

This is a free view, one of the most spectacular in York County, but it came with a cost. York County became owner of this prime turf after a protracted - and expensive - eminent domain battle. When you're up on Highpoint, in eastern York County, you might become convinced that the effort to secure this land from development was worth the cost. York Daily Record file

Here's another ice cream attraction. Ricki the bear, longtime resident, is gone after a public nuisance suit prompted his move from this eastern York County home. But the remaining attractions posted on this landmark Jim Mack's Ice Cream sign, a museum piece in itself, still draw crowds. York Daily Record file

The equestrian statue - The Picket - dominants a quadrant of Hanover's square. Hanover's walkable downtown has held up well against the onslaught of suburban malls. It hosts numerous shops and eateries. Evening Sun file

Here's another burgeoning neighborhood in a York County downtown. It's in York, and it's the quiet before the bustle on market day. Central Market is well known but for those who haven't visited recently, many shops and art galleries have sprung up around the Market/Arts District. You can spend a lot of time walking around there, visiting shops and meeting old friends. York Daily Record file

This statue, from the hands of York County sculptor Lorann Jacobs, went up in York County's 250th anniversary year in 1999. Its location is perfect. It sits in the entrance courtyard to the Agricultural and Industrial Museum in York, so you can just stroll up and study it. York Daily Record file

York County is filled with gardens and quiet walks. Here's one, in an urban area. It blooms on the grounds of Forsight Vision on Spahn Avenue. Many gardens, like this one, are open to the public to enjoy. York Daily Record file

It's important to get a coffee shop in here as a place to settle down and enjoy. This is the upstairs area of i-ron-ic, a coffee shop that also serves as an art gallery and place to browse for antiques. x

This is another quiet place to sit and reflect. Or if you have kids, bring them to a splash pad. Or they can play on an elaborate playground. This is Fairmount Park, on the hill above downtown Red Lion. And this is a war monument, a formidable 12-foot granite shaft, that commands the park. Red Lion, Pa.

Kayakers and other Susquehanna River users who want to tour the nearby restored 1700s Zimmerman Center for Heritage can come and go here. The center serves as a museum and the grounds have walking paths. The waterfront also has a floating dock. You can spend a lot of time here, at no cost. York Daily Record file

Farmers Market, at West Market and South Penn, is York's oldest market dating back to 1866. It has a new owner and a new future. If you go, you'll notice that it's more rustic than Central Market, a little closer to the market experience of the late 1800s. York Daily Record file

Many people know about winsome New Oxford because they drive around its circle to go back and forth to Gettysburg. It's a wonderful town to walk around, too. The New Oxford Coffee Co. on the square is a great place to hang out. So are the many antique shops in the borough. The grassy park in the middle of the square welcomes you, too. York Daily Record file

The Red Brick Bakery & Tearoom is known to many and should be discovered by more. The downtown Red Lion eatery with homemade delicacies is both a sit down restaurant serves and serves as a tearoom. York Daily Record file

We'll make a quick trip outside of York County to this site where the servers still come to your parked car. Red Rabbit drive-in, north of Harrisburg, adds the secret ingredient, Bunny Dust, to its hamburgers. York Daily Record file

The tiny park at Salem Square offers more than the world's smallest ballfield That statue that dominates the park honors York volunteers in both the American Revolution and Civil Wars. You don't find many statues around the county that honors those who served in those two wars. York Daily Record file

The William C. Goodridge Freedom Center is increasingly open to the public. This home of a former slave who became a York businessman in the 19th century features a basement area in which historians believe Goodridge harbored runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. York Daily Record file

This sculpture is accessible to visitors entering the lobby at the JCC in York Township. The Holocaust Memoral Sculpture named "The Six Million" was dedicated in 1997 - 20 years ago. York Daily Record file

Like we said, the Appell Center for the Performing Arts offers more than the Strand and Capitol auditoriums, as wonderful as they are. Here, a dancer practices in an upstairs studio. York Daily Record file

This old truck is on display at Muddy Creek Forks, a restored village in southeastern York County that hosts an even older rail line. The Ma & Pa Railroad first stopped in this village in the late 1800s and decades later. Muddy Creek Forks is home to many festivals, exhibitions, railroad excursions - and old car shows. You can find out more about this place, as with all sites in the gallery, by searching the name at ydr.com or via Google. Also, these sites are often the topic of discussion on the Retro York Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/retroyork, Paul Kuehnel - York Daily Record